What Are the Consequences of Not Turning Up For An Interview?

The consequences of not turning up for an interview, though you may not think it, can be huge. Find out more in this blog post.

So you’ve landed yourself an interview with an employer, but you’ve had a change in heart – uh oh!

However, you’re not alone.

According to CV-Library, one in ten UK professionals have admitted to not showing up to an interview, with this figure rising to around 18% for the Millennial generation.

The same study also revealed that 34% of candidates abandoned interview because they didn’t want the job anymore and 22% expect at least an email confirmation or they may forget about it.

Whatever the reason may be, it’s an unwanted emerging trend in the UK and one that doesn’t look particularly great on your part.

The question is, what is the severity of being labelled an interview “no-show”?

The consequences of not turning up to an interview

If you fail to turn up to your interview, there are a number of consequences you could face.

There are, however, two in particular you should make note of.

1. You'll be blacklisted.

For instance, if you’re applying for a job via a recruitment agency, they’ll probably blacklist you going forward.

You see, your actions could reflect badly on the recruiter since they’ve shown faith in you and decided to represent you in front of their client.

So it will make you look unprofessional and untrustworthy. Those are two traits recruitment agencies tend to avoid with a barge pole!

If you’re dealing directly with the employer, you may think that it doesn’t make a difference if you show or not – as you probably won’t apply for a position with them again.

However, you might be surprised by the knock-on effect it could have on you in the future.

Think of it this way, if you’re applying for a digital marketer role and the manager recruiting leaves, you could find yourself going for a role at a different company in the near future that’s being recruited for by that same person.

This is very common if you live in a small town or there are a lack of companies operating in the area you live in.

While you may think there are a lot of coincidences involved in this particular scenario, don’t be surprised if something similar happens.

After all, karma will come to bite you in the backside.

You may also find that employers will discuss things like this.

With social media and networking events so accessible nowadays, you don’t want to be the topic of a negative conversation.

If you want a sound bit of advice, adopt Madeline Bridges mantra: “Give the world the best that you have, and the best will come back to you.”

2. Burning bridges

Another consequence of not turning up is the fact that you’ll well and truly burn your bridges at that company.

Granted, the company or position may not seem right for you at that particular time, but who’s to say that it won’t be in four to five years time.

Maintaining a professional and positive image of yourself may well benefit you in the future as the recruiter or employer may help you find a role at a later date.

This is particularly true when it comes to recruitment agencies.

A top one will build up a bank of contacts and form trusted relationships with some of the best candidates in the UK.

This way, a recruiter can get in touch with you first when something suitable crops up.

This is always useful to have in the pipeline when you’re starting to have second thoughts about your current role.

How to cancel an interview the right way

If you’re nervous about cancelling an interview, don’t be.

Employers understand that there are a variety of reasons why a candidate may have a change in heart.

They’ll appreciate that you haven’t wasted any more of their time and that you’ve been honest.

Think of it this way, if you went to an interview and took the job, only to quit a month later, that can cost the business a lot of money and resource.

And the same principle applies if you simply don’t turn up for the interview in the first place.

HR personnel and senior managers take time out of their busy schedules to meet you in person, so contacting them is a kind courtesy to let them know that they can get on with their day.

Or alternatively, they can find another candidate to fill the time who is passionate about taking the position.

To cancel an interview in the right fashion, follow these two simple tips:

Have a valid reason for cancelling If you want to protect your reputation as a professional candidate, you should make sure that you have a good reason for turning the opportunity down. If it’s just a case of needing to reschedule as something important has cropped up, let the hiring manager know as they might be able to rearrange. Otherwise, being open and honest about your thoughts surrounding the job will sound a lot better than:
  • “I got offered another job”
  • “My car broke down”
  • “I’m feeling ill”
  • “My relative has died”
  • “I’ve gone the wrong way, I’m going to be late/I can’t make it”

Give notice

This is arguably the most important point out of the two as hiring managers and recruiters really value time. Give at least two days notice and this may enable the employer to fill your slot with a different candidate or make time to do something else.

Emailing on the day isn’t the best solution, as your message won’t always be picked up in time.

Think of it as a date, you wouldn’t arrange to meet someone at a bar and not turn up, would you?

Ultimately

If you’re having second thoughts about going for an interview, maybe it’s worth considering whether you even want to change jobs in the first place.

To help you with this, you should look out for the four signs that it’s time for a career change.

Alternatively, if you do find a position that you actually want to go for, try reading our previous blog: ‘7 Things Not To Say in a Job Interview’.

For more top candidate tips, subscribe to our weekly blog today.

Coburg Banks IT Recruitment
We help outstanding IT professionals get brilliant jobs in top companies.

Continue reading

View all
Category one
Category two
Category three
Category four
Coburg Banks IT Recruitment Agency

Are You Mistaking Busyness for Productivity in Your Dev Team?

Is your development team stuck in a cycle of busyness, not productivity? Discover how hiring the right talent can transform team performance and deliver real results.
Coburg Banks IT Recruitment Agency

Why Your Tech Stack Isn't the Problem

Struggling with missed deadlines and project issues? The problem might not be your tech stack—it could be your team. Learn how the right hires can unlock your tech’s full potential.
Coburg Banks IT Recruitment Agency

Why Great Engineers Leave Bad Projects

Frustrated by engineers leaving tech projects mid-way? Discover the hidden causes of team mismatches and how to prevent them for smoother, more successful projects.
Coburg Banks IT Recruitment Agency

Why You're Not Attracting the Right Kind of Developers

Struggling to attract the right developers? Learn how outdated job ads and poor targeting could be costing you top tech talent—and how to fix it.
Coburg Banks IT Recruitment Agency

Why Hiring for One Language Limits Your Options

Hiring for a single programming language limits your talent pool and stifles innovation. Discover why adaptable, multi-skilled developers are the key to building a future-proof IT team.
Coburg Banks IT Recruitment Agency

Why Recruiters Keep Sending You the Wrong Candidates

Struggling with recruiters sending the wrong candidates? Learn the key reasons behind bad tech recruiter fits and how to fix them.
Coburg Banks IT Recruitment Agency

How to Streamline Developer Interviews Without Losing Insight

Discover how to streamline developer interviews without losing valuable insights. Learn tips to attract top talent, save time, and make better hiring decisions.
Coburg Banks IT Recruitment Agency

How to Build an IT Interview Process That Doesn't Scare People Off

A poor IT interview process could be driving top talent away. Learn how to create a candidate-friendly experience that attracts skilled professionals and strengthens your hiring success.
Coburg Banks IT Recruitment Agency

How to Handle Multiple Offers in Tech Recruitment

Struggling with candidates weighing multiple offers in tech recruitment? Learn strategies to stand out, move fast, and win top IT talent.
Coburg Banks IT Recruitment Agency

How We Help You Build High-Performance Tech Teams

Struggling to build a great tech team is slowing your growth. Discover how finding the right talent can boost productivity and drive success.
Coburg Banks IT Recruitment Agency

Why Coburg Banks Offers Structured Hiring Plans

Struggling with chaotic IT recruitment processes? Discover how structured hiring plans can save time, reduce mis-hires, and ensure every hire fits your goals.
Coburg Banks IT Recruitment Agency

Our 3-Month Rebate Scheme, Explained Simply

Hiring mistakes in IT can be costly and disruptive. Learn how a recruitment guarantee can protect your investment and keep your team on track.
Coburg Banks IT Recruitment Agency

Why You'll Never Chase Us for Updates

Tired of chasing recruiters for updates? Discover how proactive communication can transform your IT hiring experience and save you time.
Coburg Banks IT Recruitment Agency

What to Expect in Your First Week With Coburg Banks

Discover what to expect during your first week with a proven IT recruitment agency. From tailored strategies to early results, see how seamless hiring starts here.
Coburg Banks IT Recruitment Agency

We're Not Just Filling Roles - We're Building Tech Teams

Short-term hiring can hurt your business with high turnover and wasted resources. Discover how strategic IT recruitment helps build teams that thrive now and in the future.
Coburg Banks IT Recruitment Agency

Why You'll Never Chase Us for Updates

Tired of chasing recruiters for updates? Discover how proactive communication can transform your IT hiring experience and save you time.
Coburg Banks IT Recruitment Agency

What to Expect in Your First Week With Coburg Banks

Discover what to expect during your first week with a proven IT recruitment agency. From tailored strategies to early results, see how seamless hiring starts here.
Coburg Banks IT Recruitment Agency

We're Not Just Filling Roles - We're Building Tech Teams

Short-term hiring can hurt your business with high turnover and wasted resources. Discover how strategic IT recruitment helps build teams that thrive now and in the future.